Budget 2014: Oral Health and Bariatric Surgery Announcements

Associate
Health Minister Tariana Turia announced an additional health
initiative in Budget 2014 today, new operating funding of
$10 million for Better Oral Health for children and
adolescents over the next four years.

Associate Health
Minister Tariana Turia says the Better Oral Health
announcement aligns with the Government's preventative
health measures and has been recommended by the Health
Select Committee. The new funding will support a range of
activities that promote better oral health for children and
adolescents. In particular, the promotion will aim to
increase regular tooth brushing (with fluoride toothpaste)
among pre-school children, and to increase the number of
adolescents using the free oral health services that are
available to them. As well health promotions will include
information about the importance of reducing the intake of
sugary food and drink as part of a healthy diet.

“The
oral health of our families starts when they are young. We
need to start educating our children when they are babies
about the importance of brushing teeth twice daily from an
early age. We should also continue to actively campaign
against foods and drinks with high levels of sugar and
particularly the impact of juices and sugary drinks in
babies’ bottles. It is vital that we get the necessary
information to our communities in the right way so that they
are able to make informed choices about their health and the
health of their children,” Mrs Turia says.

“There is
also a budget of $10 million which has been set aside for at
least 480 bariatric surgery operations over four years
within the elective-surgery initiative of $110 million
announced on Budget day last week,” Mrs Turia
says.

“Bariatric surgery can improve health dramatically
for those who suffer from obesity and are struggling to lose
weight through diet and/or exercise. Weight-related
illnesses such as diabetes, sleep apnoea and hypertension
can also be improved through bariatric surgery, and I am
pleased that this Government has strengthened its commitment
to fund this type of surgery,” Mrs Turia
says.

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